Production of 'The Taming of the Shrew' brings Las Vegas love and lights to Blacksburg

Virginia Tech News

11 Apr 2024

Luke Dangle, a senior theatre major, and Virginia Ames Tillar, a junior double major in theatre and English literature, rehearse a scene between Petruchio and Kate. Virginia Ames Tillar sits on Luke's knee, as he holds her arm. — (From left) Luke Dangle, a senior theatre major, and Virginia Ames Tillar, a junior double major in theatre and English literature, rehearse a scene between Petruchio and Kate in "The Taming of the Shrew." Photo by Ashley Cooper for Virginia Tech.

The School of Performing Arts is closing out the “Season of Empowerment” with a new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” adapted and directed by David R. Gammons, visiting assistant professor of directing.

“Taming of the Shrew” tells the story of two sisters, Katherina and Bianca, and their journeys to become married women. Their mother, Baptista, won’t marry Bianca, the youngest sister, off to her lover Lucentio until the elder is married. Petruchio, an eccentric nobleman, arrives in town and vows to marry and “tame” the “bonny Kate.” Through a battle of wits and increasingly erratic actions, Kate and Petruccio fall into authentic love, proved when Kate helps Petruccio win a bet.

“This play was selected as the last production in our ‘Season of Empowerment’ because I wanted to explore the sometimes controversial play and what it says about marriage, courtships, and gendered relationships in general,” said Gammons. “The story is presented as a play within a play and as a comedy, so I believe that Shakespeare wanted us to find humor and absurdity in the action.”

This version of the well-known story leans into the theatricality and impulsiveness of love, the performance of romance, and the validity public relationships afforded women by staging the play in 1960s Las Vegas. It provides an exciting opportunity for the creative team, who are exploring this period through sound, lighting, scenic, costume, dialect, and movement design."We’re looking at the story through a world of bright lights and quick weddings,” said Eli Crishock, senior theatre performance major and assistant director.

“Having the story set in Las Vegas gives the characters the freedom to take the risk to get what they want in love,” said Kelly O’Bryant, assistant director and a junior double majoring in theatre and medicinal chemistry.

The production also questions the performance and implications of gender and gender performance in relationships. There are actors playing the roles as written, gender-bent, played by players of different genders, and more. “Our cast is the key to the success of this production,” said Gammons.

“The actors have not been afraid to play with the text or make bold choices, but are consistently coming back to the text and building on Shakespeare’s words,” said Dramaturg Stephanie Gardner, a junior double majoring in secondary education and theatre performance.

Bianca, played by senior double major in public health and theatre, Aryan Mathur, and Katherine, played by junior double major in theatre and English literature, Virginia Ames Tillar rehearse a fight using inflatable pool floats. There is a red suitcase on the floor. One float, shaped like a frosted donut, is around Bianca, and the other float is held by Katherine, and is shaped like a hot dog on a bun. — Bianca, played by Aryan Mathur (at left), a senior double majoring in public health and theatre, and Katherine, played by Virginia Ames Tillar, a junior double majoring in theatre and English literature, rehearse a fight using inflatable pool floats. Photo by Ashley Cooper for Virginia Tech.

"We have changed Baptista from a father to a mother, which brings up interesting questions about the mother-daughter relationships,” said Gardner.

“We are also honoring the Shakespearean tradition of having a male play Bianca, without changing the gender of the character,” said Gammons.

The last gender-bending twist is with Bianca’s various suitors, who disguise themselves as other genders in order to court her. “We wanted to showcase a world where it was commonplace for someone to be courted by multiple genders as a reminder about the performative nature of identity,” said Gammons.

While the production is asking some large questions about the nature of humans in relationships, it also aims to be an exciting, entertaining spin on classic comedy for the modern audience.

Tickets and parking

Performances of "Taming of the Shrew," are April 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. and April 20 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre, located on the second level of Squires Student Center, 290 College Ave. in Blacksburg.

This production contains flashing lights, sexual innuendo and allusions to sex, comedic violence, male torso nudity, and simulated use of alcohol and tobacco products.

Tickets are $15 general and $12 senior/student and may be purchased through the Moss Arts Center ticket office in person or online. Tickets will be available at the door in the Squires Student Center beginning one hour before the performance — cash and online sales only. Find links for online purchases.

All seating is general admission. The performance is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

All university community members and visitors will need to display a parking permit, use the ParkMobile app, pay a fee, or pay using an hourly meter to park on the Blacksburg campus unless otherwise noted by signage. Find additional parking information online.

If you are an individual with a disability and/or require an accommodation, please contact Susan Sanders at least eight business days before the event.

Written by Ashley Cooper, a Master of Fine Arts in theatre and arts leadership candidate